IDEAS FOR CONSERVATION OR STEWARDSHIP THEME ESSAY …

IDEAS FOR CONSERVATION OR STEWARDSHIP THEME ESSAY OR SPEECH CONTESTS

Information provided by National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Stewardship & Education

Section 1: Ideas & websites from other conservation districts a. send additional ideas or websites to: stewardship@

Section 2: Essay template Section 3: Speech Contest brochure sample

Section 1

Speech and essay contests are held locally and at the state level in some states. There currently is not a national contest for speech and essay through NACD. We supply information through the Stewardship program that provide resource information for these 2 contests.

Examples of contests held in other states are:

Essay contest examples at the websites below:





See Essay Template ? Page 2

Speech and Essay contests often use the Stewardship theme. Resource information can be found at:

NACD and the auxiliary sponsor a poster contest using the NACD Stewardship theme. Many states participate and districts hold contests at a county or area level and then send them on to a state contest where the state winners are then eligible for the national contest. Contest information can be found at the above website.

Speech and or public speaking contest example at websites below:







See Sample Brochure ? Page 4

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NACD Stewardship and Education

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Section 2 ESSAY CONTEST TEMPLATE (modify to fit your local contest)

Essay Topic for ____________ County Conservation District TOPIC: ___________________________________________ How do I submit my essay and when are they due? All essays will need to be turned into _______________ by _______________. They will need to be mailed on or before ______________________ to: (Not responsible for essays lost in the mail) ADDRESS TO MAIL: __________________________________________

How many times may I enter the contest?

We will accept one (1) entry per student in grades _____________ who attend a

_____________County School or is home schooled.

How long should entries be? Grade __________ words Grade __________ words

Information on each essay: Student name: School: Teacher:

What are the prizes?

Parent permission signature & date signed for the ____________ Conservation district to use the

information in the essay. __________________________________________________________________

Where do I start?

Resources:

How will essays be used?

The ______________________ County Conservation District will use the information from the essays for promotion, website, publications; or ads to help promote conservation across our county, state and nation.

Judging Criteria

______

______

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NACD Stewardship and Education

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OTHER IDEAS:

1) Talk with the principal before announcing contest for permission and or support. 2) Talk with teachers at each grade level to assist in promotion 3) If you are going to collect the essays from the teachers, provide a large envelope

to collect the essays in. One that opens and closes easily and is brightly colored so it does not get lost on their desk. 4) News releases for local paper 5) Post a library 6) See if local newspaper will co-sponsor and help judge or local service organization

If you will publish any of the essays and the students are under 18-

Require parent signature ? or check if it is a school project ?

They may have one on file from registration.

Students under 18 must have their parent's permission and signature attached to the essay.

I give my permission for ________________________________________ (PRINT NAME) to enter the _________________________ Conservation District Essay Contest.

I understand that the district may use all or part of the essay to promote conservation at the county, state and national level.

Parent or Guardian of above student.

_________________________________________________- signature

_________________________________________________-printed name

_____________________ date

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NACD Stewardship and Education

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Section 3

Contest Theme Our drinking water: Where does it come from, and where does it go?

Water. It is found in great abundance in Indiana, but other parts of the United States and the world view this resource as a scarce and precious commodity.

Our very lives depend on a clean, reliable source of water. Ironically, our way of life can damage this very resource that sustains us. Our good health depends on it. Wars could be fought over it. And terrorists could target it. A priceless resource, yet so thoughtlessly squandered.

To encourage high school students to become more aware of the natural environment around them, especially the soil and water resources, the Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring a public speaking contest.

Contestants will develop and present a speech between 5 to 8 minutes in length featuring the contest theme. Local professionals will judge the speeches, and the winning contestant will be invited to present their speech at the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Meeting on January 30, 2007.

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Potential sources for information:

Environmental Protection Agency

(Put drinking water into the search) safewater/dwinfo/index.html

ecn.purdue.edu/SafeWater/drinkinfo/

Indiana Department of Health isdh

American Water Works Advocacy/dww/

Public Broadcasting System

newshour/backgrounders/drinking_water.html journeytoplanetearth/education/hotzones.html wgbh/rxforsurvival/series/diseases/diarrheal_diseases.html

consumerdnn/

consumer/drinking_water/index.asp?program=WaterTre

Dubois County Health Department (812) 481-7050

City of Jasper Water Filtration Plant (812) 482-2010

City of Jasper Wastewater Facilities (812) 482-3277

Keep thinking and researching other sources!

Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District

Public Speaking Contest

Monday, January 22, 2007 6:00 PM

Phone: (812) 482-1171 Ext. 3

Contest Rules

? All Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and

Seniors enrolled in Dubois County High Schools are eligible to participate. Home schooled students in these grade levels are also eligible.

? Contestants should register with the

SWCD office by phone or e-mail by 4 PM Friday, January 12 to be eligible to compete.

? Speeches

should be no less than 5 minutes in length, and no longer than 8 minutes.

? The con-

test theme of "Our Drinking Water: Where Does it Come From and Where Does it Go" should be the topic of the speech.

? Contestants will be randomly scheduled for

their presentation time, and assigned a number. They will be introduced by their number rather than by name.

? Contestants will wait outside room prior

to presenting their speech.

? Contestant will be escorted to place where

they will give their speech.

? After speech is complete, contestant can

have a seat in the audience and listen to the rest of the speeches.

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? The use of notes is permitted, but the con-

testant should know the speech well enough that the use of notes is kept to a minimum.

? Audio visual/transparencies will be permitted

to enhance the presentation, but cannot take the place of the actual speech.

? The contestants will be judged on Content

and Organization, 50 points, and Presentation, 50 points. Content and Organization includes appropriateness of topic, content originality, accuracy, and sequence of thought. Presentation includes appearance, vocal quality, poise, expressiveness, persuasiveness, originality, and overall impact. Points will be deduced for each 10 second over 8 minutes, or under 5 minutes.

? After all contestants have presented their

speech, the judges will be escorted from the room to tally their scorecards. The judges will select a first and second place winner only.

? The Judges decision will be final.

? First and Second place winners will be

awarded savings bonds. All participants receive participation recognition.

? First place speech contestant will be invited

to present their speech at the SWCD annual meeting on January 30, 2007. Up to four complementary meal tickets will be provided to the contestant and his or her family or guests.

? All contestants are free to discuss their

presentations with the judges once the awards ceremony is complete. Score sheets will be available one week after the contest to those contestants who request a copy.

Contest Sponsors

Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District Local civic organizations will sponsor savings bonds: first prize, $200 Savings Bond; second prize, $100 Savings Bond. Consultant: Rock Emmert, Educator, Forest Park High School

DUBOIS COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

1486 Executive Blvd. Suite A; Jasper IN 47546 Phone: (812) 482-1171 Ext. 3

E-mail: judi.brown@in.

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